As Cerek and Thanos were having breakfast, cheese, bread and cold slices of lamb, Ayhtahdis joined them at the table.
"Did you enjoy yourselves?" Aythadis asked.
"Very much so, " Thanos replied.
"The music was eeriely wonderful and the dances"
A blush coloured his cheeks. Cerek smiled at his younger companion, then fought to hide a blush of his own as Aythadis eyes met his.
"The dances were...different, " he said, trying not to linger on those slender legs he'd seen move.
"Did you..." Thanos started.
"Yes, I met those I needed to see." He looked at the young Athenian and smiled.
"I thank you for asking."
After breakfast the walked accross the market where Aythadis bought a deep blue cloak, Thanos a well made knife and Cerek admired the swords the Tartessians made. However, he did not want to part with his own blade, so let them be.
When the sunligth started bleeding from the sky, the threesome returned to the Nautica, where Bartuc eagerly told the story of what happened to them the night before.
Hamid told Aythadis of Abu's desire to join the crew.
"I will see him in the morning, Hamid. Then he can make his choice."
Morning broke with the crying of gulls on the waterfront. Aythadis awaited the coming of Abu, wondering about the dreams he had that night. A few moments later the Arabian showed up by the Nautica. Aythadis eyes narrowed as he saw, what could be no other than an aura hanging around him. It looked as if Abu would find his death at sea.
The two spoke, with Aythadis asking whether Abu was certain he wanted to come along. Abu, however, bored with Cadir wanted nothing more than to join the crew of the Nautica. With a whispered, "On your head be it, " he passed Abu a bone crew chit.
An hour later the Nautica slipped out the harbour, carving a white trace in the blue sea. Course was laid for the Northlands as the white wing of the Nautica's sail swept her on. The sky was clear, but for a few fuzzy white clouds, the water calm beneath the stiff northerly wind.
Hours passed when suddenly the wind picked up, clouds gathered from all four directions, high, dark and grumbling with thunder, spitting lihgtning. The waves rose higher and higher and Idomenes shouted for the sails to be reefed.
Then, with driving rain the storm fell upon them.